Puna fatality 09-21-07

Media Release

A 19-year-old Puna man died Thursday (September 20) from injuries he sustained in a one-vehicle crash on Beach Road, .3 miles east of Kahakai Boulevard.

The victim was identified as Jarryd Campbell of a Keaau address.

Responding to a 9:09 p.m. call, Puna patrol officers determined that the victim was traveling west on Beach Road and operating a 1990 Honda four-door sedan when he failed to negotiate a curve in the roadway, drove off a cliff and dropped about 20 feet to the rocks below.

Fire Department personnel extricated the victim from the vehicle and took him to Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 12:50 a.m. (September 21).

Police believe that speed and alcohol were factors in the crash. The driver was not wearing a seatbelt.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a coroner’s inquest case and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Police ask anyone with information about this crash to call Officer Andres Fojas at 961-8889.

This is the 27th traffic fatality on the Big Island this year compared with 27 at this time last year.